African Sumac, Willow Rhus, Karee,         roos LAN-ce-a

• Small evergreen tree, low branching, open, slow growing to 25 ft (7.6 m), upright, but branchlets weeping; bark gray or brown, rough.  Leaves alternate, compound, 3 willow-like leaflets, each leaflet linear-lanceolate (terminal leaflet 12 cm × 1.5 cm), margin usually entire, rarely serrate, dark green above, paler to gray below.  Dioecious - male and female plants.  Flowers small, green-yellow, in dense, terminal clusters (panicles).  Fruit somewhat spherical, about 5 mm, slightly asymmetrical, green then yellow, red or brown.
• Sun.  Well-drained soil.  Tolerates high summer temperatures, but may need some summer water in a desert environment.  Susceptible to Texas root rot.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 9      Native to South Africa.
• lancea: a reference to the narrow, lance-shaped leaflets.